The Happiest Place On Earth (debatable) Pt 2: We just go for it.

(Spencer and I have a line we like to repeat.  A mantra, if you will.  There is an Andrew WK album called "I Get Wet" and we have surmised that the title is an answer to the question, "Hey, Andrew WK, but what will you do if it rains!?"   It's a philosophy that trying to prepare for life's storms is overkill.  It rains, we get wet, we laugh, we dry.  Hold on to that thought.)

And we're off!  It's a week after the broken leg, it's about 12 weeks into the pregnancy, and the van is packed and off we go!

The drive there was pretty smooth sailing and Spencer got to tell the girls all kinds of stories of his past as we drove through Georgia and Florida.

This is a picture of our campground a few days into the stay.  Look closely and you'll notice everything is wet...

Waiting at the bus stop to go from the campgrounds to the Magic Kingdom!!  I made the girls these blingy tiaras so that I could easily spot them in a crowd.  It was a winning plan if I do say so myself!

First character spotting! 

Obligatory castle pic

This little troupe of singers and dancers whisked our little invalid right into the show with the rest of the little people.  I was really impressed and touched that without giving it a second thought they treated her the same as any other kid.

A kid just cannot help but feel the magic, as you can see from Cadence's face

Rapunzel's tower

adorable baby!

Aunt Caitlin caught up with us as we were in line to meet Mickey Mouse.  She came bearing gifts and "made it rain" barf bags that she got from a generous stewardess for her sick sister-in-law (me!)  Why did it take 5  pregnancies to realize that barf bags are a purse-necessity!?

Ezra was cool and collected while meeting giant-headed non-human creatures that moved menacingly toward him for "kisses" and pictures. 

The girls got to participate in Belle's retelling of her romance.  What a step up from just standing in line to meet her!

Having a broken leg meant extra attention everywhere she turned.  Is there a better way for an aspiring princess to do Disney?

Campbell's official favorite ride: It's a Small World.  Spencer said to me while we waited, "Why don't we explain to them what this ride is about?"  "Okay," I said, "Girls, when somebody says, 'it's a small world', what do you think it means?"  I then broke into tears and couldn't finish.  Hashtag pregnant problems.

After getting a little drenched we stood in line for EVERRRRRR inside the very well air-conditioned princess meeting spot for Rapunzel and Cinderella it was cold and slooow and the baby was grumpy.  good good times.

Rapunzel was, true to form, adorably space-cadetted and even managed to knock invalid Layla right over during photos.  Funny, but not.

Would you just look at those faces as they look up at Cinderella?!  I hate to ever say this but that right there may have been worth the $40 billion dollars/day it costs to get in there.  And that was the end of day one: Magic Kingdom.  Back to the campground to hide from the rain in our tent.  We were so exhausted!

The next day was Animal Kingdom:

 This is Layla's face as she told me how she felt about not getting to go on the most exciting roller coaster of the day because she wasn't tall enough.  This cruel world is just not fair!

And here is Ezra, who cheers up immediately when a pink bow is placed on his head...

 Cadence was our proud photographer on our safari tour.

Later in the day the older girls wanted to return to Kali Rapids, a ride that had totally soaked Layla, who isn't supposed to get her cast wet, earlier.  So Spencer and I had the little ones and chanced upon a couple of friends.

Our Animal Kingdom day ended early with buckets of rain.  BUCKETS.  Unfortunately, that particular park had little to offer indoors, so we ran through the rain and waited for a bus to take us back to our campsite.  As we waited we thought, well, we can either go sit in the tent the rest of the day or we can try a different park.  So we hopped off the bus at Hollywood Studios, where we were greeted by a puddle who thought it was a pool.  After running away from the bus, through the pool-puddle, we were told at the gate that the park was closing early that night for a "private event".  We had 45 minutes to make this worth it.  We RAN.  RAN like the wind, through torrential rainfall.  We made it to the Star Tours ride where we found that Ezra wasn't allowed on the ride, which I was kind of ok with because 1) I was feeling pretty sick and din't think a ride would help, and 2) it was air-conditioned in there and we were soaked.  After the ride we RANRANRAN back to the bus, where we rode back in a well-cooled bus in our absolutely drenched clothes and found our tent and bedding to have not escaped our fate of moisture.  I broke down.  Exhausted beyond my limited, nauseous, weak, and cold, and needing a safe and warm and dry place to put my baby and little people, who were sooo tired.  I cried and yelled and insisted we find a hotel.  Spencer let me expend the rest of my energies and then he made everything work.  We got through the night and headed to Epcot the next day.

 The kids handled the craziness with grace and glee.  And Ezra, who was soaked and cold, was happy as a clam.  He entertained the whole bus-load of wet and tired and cold people.  Caitlin is the Master of Morale and kept the kids in good spirits come hell or high water or long lines in the heat of the sun.

 The Nemo exhibits at Epcot were fantastical!  I got smart and brought a small collapsible camp stool along and used it every chance I could.  People thought I was weird.  But I wasn't barfing on them or passing out and thereby freaking them out, so it was really for their benefit.

 In order to meet Minnie and Goofy we had to meet Mickey, again.  This was a little weird because he didn't seem to remember seeing us just the other day, in the other park.  Also, he couldn't talk like he could on Monday... a mystery...

 Goofy was super concerned about the broken leg.  "Gawrsh!" he signed on the cast :)

 This one of Cadence and Minnie is one of my favorite moments.

 Minnie noticed Caitlin and the baby hanging out in the background and wouldn't have it.  She dragged them into the fun!

 We got in line to meet Alice and were told that we were the last in line and that no others may join the line.   When we finally got to the front of the line, Alice took the girls by the hands and in a crazy, silly-talking Wonderland-way, took them on a walk to see the gardens and talk about the tea-party she was headed to.

 They found some bugs to name and talk to.

 I may be sick and pregnant but I've still got some moves!  We're every bit as in love as those shrubs are.

 

 

 As our walk through Epcot took through the far corners of the world, we noticed a very short line forming before our eyes.  When you are at a Disney Park and you witness the birth of a line, it behooveth you to get in that line before it turns into a monster.  Just trust me.  So we did.  And it was a line for Aladdin and Jasmine.  And they did NOT disappoint.  Now, the line formed about 45 minutes before they were even there to start meeting people, but it was still better to be in the front of that line.

 This was by far my favorite character meeting.  They were so absolutely engrossed in making our kids feel like they were the only ones there.  They sat down with them and learned what their favorite colors were, what they liked to do at home, told them about riding a magic carpet, and made sure that they had a marker in the color of their choice to sign autographs.  They were the best!

 I think this was Norway...where Elsa and Anna had been a couple of days before, but the website hadn't updated and told me that they weren't going to be at Epcot  anymore.  Geez louise!  Oh, well, the line would have been 7 hours long either way, so what does it matter?!

Each day, at least once or twice, I would take a little sit down whilst everybody else continued doing the things you do in a place like this.  It was during one of these sit-downs at Epcot that 1) it began to pour, again, and 2) they found Mulan!

 

 After riding the Viking Ship to get out of the rain and then hiding out in the lobby of the Viking ship/movie viewing area until the rain let up a little (it didn't), we ran like crazy to a cold bus where we sat soaking for our ride home to our wet tent (sound familiar?)  But this time we got to meet up with Mammaw and go out to Pizza Hut, where the AC was also blasting :)!

 The next day: HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS! 

 The tower of terror is meant to be as terrifying as it sounds-- and Cadence and Layla loved it and wanted to go again and again!  Notably, Campbell, who does NOT love roller coasters, agreed with little outside persuasion to try it at least once and then reserve the right to not go again if she didn't want to.  And that is exactly what happened :)

 Hey, Spencer? What will you do if it rains?

 SINGIN' IN THE RAIN....  How appropriate...

 This was another one of those times when I took a few minutes to be on my own and sit still for a while, so I don't really know what was the cause of all these cute happy faces but they sure are adorbs!

 A Bug's Life Playground:

 At the campgrounds there were nightly campfires and smores, hosted by Chip and Dale.  As soon as I realized it wasn't Chippendale, I was out...oh, no... that's not funny...  I was just too sick and tired so the baby and I went to bed while everybody else went to have some fun.

 The next morning was Ezra and I flew home while Mammaw, Caitlin, Spencer, and the girls stayed for one more day at the Magic Kingdom.

 

 MERIDA!  A favorite in this home of spirited girls!

 Stitch!  Not my favorite choice for a role-model but...it takes all kinds, eh?

 That morning the goal was to see Anna and Elsa.  The first day the line had been 5 hours long, so this time, the plan was to be first into the park and to RUN RUN RUN straight to where the Princess Meeting Place was, and then hope to be in a 2 hour line. They were at the gates 30 minutes before the park opened. Then they ran.  RAN!  And guess how long that line was?  Seven.  Seven hours?!  Who pays 85 bucks a person to get into the park to literally stand in line ALL day!?!  So the girls walked away and had a fantastic day anyway. 

 As a parent, you know you've done your job well when you see a moment like this:

You've worn them down completely with memories of happiness and magic dancing through their cute little brains.  Yes!

And so ended the Magical Week of Disney, the Happiest, Craziest, Wettest, Most Expensive, Magicalest Place on Earth!


EPILOGUE:  It's nearing a year out and Spencer and I look back at this trip and high five-- hardest family vacation ever? Yes.  Chock full of magic and memories?  Heck Yes.  Worth it? Aaaah, yeah!

Here are a few things that I want to mention that pictures didn't show-- 

--I wish we had pictures of our Disney Lunches, where we found a few tables or benches and whipped out our peanut butter, Jelly, and bread. 

--I also wish we had photo documentation of the loads and loads of laundry that needed to be washed and dried because of the rain getting into the tent and making everything not only wet and cold, but stank-nasty, which is poison to a pregnant nose. 

--No pictures of the kids exploring the campground with the neighboring campers' kids.  Or the little boy who wanted to show me every single one of his pokemon cards while I tried to make dinner and take care of the baby.

--I remember being amazed at a few things I noticed-- who are these parents that will spend hundreds of dollars for their little girls to go to a "Princess Salon"?  And buy their kids the $70 princess dresses?  ETc?  There are a million ways to throw money out the window at Disney and EVERYBODY seemed willing to do it...why? How?

--Another thing I noticed was how friendly people were. We were all there to be happy, and so happy we would be. 

--Here's what I think we'd do if we do it again-- camper-trailer.  That way we still get the experience of camping without being soaked.  sheesh.

--Please forgive my hair.  I was too sick and too busy to get it fixed.  I did consider wearing a blond wig but was afraid my girls wouldn't be able to spot me in a crowd.

 

The Happiest Place on Earth! (debatable...) PT 1: the plans are laid

A few months ago Spencer and I realized that an undeniable opportunity was upon us: he had an extra week of time off he needed to use before summer started, we were in a great position to go do something cool because the baby was just the right age (not too small to worry about but not big enough to need independence constantly), I wasn't pregnant and was post-baby enough to be feeling great, and the girls were the PERFECT ages to really get sucked into the magic of Disney.  We have waited and waited for this day, not wanting to throw down the $40 bazillion dollars it costs until all ciurcumstances were perfect.   Well, the time finally came.  (note, the older two have been to Disneyland, but not since they were babies.  Cadence vaguely remembers our last time, when she was two and Campbell was 2 wks.  Back then we had So Cal family that paid for us).

The trip consisted of a two-day road trip (18 hrs total, but with our lot we know it's best broken up), six nights camping at Disney's Fort Wilderness Campsites, and 5 days in the parks.  Spencer's sister Caitlin called and said, "Oh, by the way, I'm going on a mission to Brazil!" and could she come visit us before she leaves.  We figured she'd have more fun coming along to Disneyworld than hanging out here in Bville while life goes on as usual.  I think we were right.  So Caitlin came along.  We also invited Spencer's mom, knowing she would want to be involved in such a trip.  She did, indeed, and planned to come to the back half of the trip.

So, all the plans were laid into place.  The camping was essential to the plan because a) we thought it would be fun and more memorable than a hotel, and b) it is by far the cheapest way to stay AT Disney (thus being allowed into the parks early, access to the free transportation, etc) and we wanted to be close to all the action and not have to find a cheap hotel and all that.  In a few minutes you're going to be saying, "YOU CAMPED?!? ARE YOU STUPID?!?" so remember this paragraph.

After plans were carefully laid, we decided to tell the kids.  We waited until we were about a month out.  They were SO excited!  There is probably nothing we could have said that would have been better. They counted down the days, they told perfect strangers, they watched only Disney for a month straight.  Also remember this paragraph in a minute.  THE KIDS WERE ECSTATIC.

After we told the kids and made all plans and flights were purchased for Caitlin and Mammaw, we got a little bit of surprise news.  Ezra is going to be a big brother, and much sooner than we thought!  Well, we were absolutely thrilled, albeit shocked, to discover this, but it did throw a kink in the "Perfectest Ever Disney Plans".  I told myself I'll just not get sick this time,  I just mustn't.  I just won't.

Well, as the trip neared and it was quite clear that I WAS going to be sick this time, my mind started to envision this perfect trip.  Camping.  Smelling.  Bathrooming.  Showering.  Magic Kingdoming.  Lunch Packing.  Smelling.  Camping.  Bathrooming. Public bathrooming.

After much discussion, however, we decided we must proceed as planned.  We absolutely couldn't tell the kids we weren't going.  The trip was possible because we were camping, thus being able to afford going in the first place.  So we left all plans in place and thanked our lucky stars we had planned on having some extra adults.

It was T-6 days to take-off (drive-off) and we were enjoying a lovely Easter evening with our good friends the Smallwoods and the Flemings.  It was a perfect day and the kids were enjoying the outdoors. Several times somebody would come running to the door and say, "so and so is crying!"  And the parents were all taking turns soothing sore knees or egos (except me because I was sick on the couch).

Then Layla started crying.  My skin crawled and I was anxiously awaiting an adult to carry her in.  I could hear Spencer telling her she was ok and to stop being so loud.  This is a typical response of a male, I've realized.  They know how dramatic such an event can seem to a child and they know they must teach them to let it go.  I've heard this cry before though and I made him bring her to me.  She couldn't stop screaming in pain, which is very unlike her, and so, after about 25 minutes of no relief for the little thing, Spencer and I carefully loaded her into the car and took her to the ER.  The Smallwoods and Flemings got the kids to bed, cleaned up the kitchen, and then Tara stayed until we got home.  We are so blessed to have family-friends like these!

I was absolutely confident in my diagnosis of a broken bone in her leg, although I couldn't have told you exactly where.  After waiting here and waiting there and a little nap in Daddy's arms, she was calm and even a little chatterbox again.  Her cheerfulness threw ppl off and I don't think the hospital staff believed me.  I think Spencer was pretty certain, too, though.
The x-ray was performed and Layla had to straighten out her leg, which made her scream in pain and call out for me.  I was sitting outside the room because the pregnancy, and pictured myself running through the walls and pushing people out of my way to get to her side and scoop her up.  I hated that moment.

she hardly even took a breath while these guys were in the room, on account of she had sooo much to say.

The break was at the top of the tibia, it went about 90% through the bone, it seems.  They splinted her while she talked incessantly about colors and princesses and the Easter Bunny.  Then I almost passed out from being upright for too long and a nurse brought me crackers and juice and we all somehow got out to the car all right.

So... now we had this to weigh in to our Disney plans.  I admit that I was thinking, "Perfect! We have an out!"  But we waited to see what the Dr. who was going to cast it said.

Four excruciating days of pain in that splint.  I was so mad at the orthopedist.  Why!?!  She was in such pain!  At night she'd lie down and it would hurt so bad.  I'd try to help her fall asleep.  She'd finally drift off only to do that little "jump" thing right when sleep starts to take over, and in doing so, would jar her leg and send herself reeling in pain again.  It was so sad.

Thankfully Spencer worked from home a couple of days to help because she needed to be carried everywhere, particularly to the bathroom.  I was too sick to do this so having his help was essential.  On thursday the cast was placed, from her toes to her upper thigh.  Because it was so big, the use of water proof lining is forbidden (water gets trapped inside too easily when it's so long).  So there goes our swimming plans at the campground.  Layla was super thrilled about the cast though, and we heard a few people tell us that having a cast at Disney is actually helpful.  So, we carried on!  We figured that at the very least, it would be better than having her sit at home and not be able to play.

And so, we spent our evenings frantically packing and praying that all would still go well!  And then the day finally came.

WINTER 2014

This year has gone by so quickly and so full of craziness that I've hardly had time to stop and breath, let alone blog.  Isn't it just the way life goes that the more you have to blog about, the less time you have to do it!  I've got so much to document this year so far.  I'm going to go season by season rather than event by event, so these are bound to be mammoth posts.

JANUARY-MARCH 2014:

This was a winter of record snow days in NWA, and several times church had to be cancelled.  In January we bundled up and walked to our neighbors, the Dragoviches', to meet with a few families who were close enough to travel safely and hold our own meeting.  It was a neat experience.  What a COLD winter!

Spencer took the girls ice-skating as often as he could and Campbell zipped around confidently.  It was so adorable.  so, so so so so adorable.

lovin' life!  Cadence must be busy lapping everybody else on the ice.

Spencer had the real-life opportunity to teach some of his scouts how to respond to a life-threatening accident that you come upon.  

   In February, soccer season started.  It was such a cold season, but the kids did great!

this was one of the rare occasions that Layla didn't wear a skirt with her jersey.  She opted for pink butterfly thermal underwear instead since it was bitter cold that morning.

Oh, yeah, and then I sent Spencer a text at work that changed his life.  

Ezra proves to be the worlds BEST hugger.  Really.

I force myself to take pictures with my little ones.

Ezra tries out the swings for the first time.  He loves it!

"FROZEN" becomes available on DVD and the girls watch it 40 billion times in a row, in one day.

Ezra is tooooooo cute.

Spencer and Mardee get asked to be the emcees at the beloved "Broadway Night" ward talent show (the premier don't-bring-your-kids event).  They accept having no idea what they are going to do.

They are just a teeny tiny bit totally mortified to see that some of these pictures have been blown up and made into posters and put up in the foyers of the Stake Center to advertise the event.  They hope that the mustache and feathers are enough to disguise their identity.

They somehow pull it off and have an absolutely great time as emcees.  In spite of the fact that pregnancy is now hitting Mardee hard.

Rite of childhood, brought to you by an awesome Dad.

SNOW!!! SNOW SNOW SNOW.   Campbell likes to get out and feel the weather.

Sometimes we get out with our babies.  This is obviously before I got pregnant.

Dad helps the girls build a fort one snowy snowy night.


A few fb posts (in lieu of journaling):
1/6/14:  Baby's first bite of rice cereal! He ate ravenously and made many gestures to show he was pleased with this new world of solid foods. And his big sister (cadence) hid under the table, crying in fear of his life, refusing to believe that cereal wouldn't be the end of him
1/17/14: A lesson about reaping what we sew : if we plant carrot seeds, what will we grow? Kids: "carrots!!" If we plant seeds of unkindness, what will we get back? Campbell: "potatoes!" Karma just got a little irish.

1/20/14: Faced my fear today and got on a treadmill. I did not fall down and get sucked into it, after all.
2/8/14: Some things cadence knows about the 1980's: her mom and dad were born, horse-drawn carriages were replaced by cars, there were no tv's, just radios, but no music yet just talk radio, the clothes were modest, andthe US didn't exist yet. We're so old.

2/19/14: Realized this wk that if I want to reach my fitness goals, I need to become fully obsessed with working out. So I hit the gym TWICE in one week AND decided I'd better rid the house of the cookies, brownies, and m&ms. That was a lot to eat at once but I can tell it's gonna be worth it come swimsuit season.

3/27/14: It's NOT opposite day around here and years of being overly sarcastic have NOT prepared me for this. And the four yr old is NOT constantly confused.

3/27/14:  Annual conversion from storage closet to storm shelter: water bottles and snacks check, blankets and flashlights check, atlatl check. Ready.

3/31/14: A child's prayer: "and please bless us with... (looks up with face twisted by confusion)...boobs?"  Uh... (that was Layla)

Up next: Spring 2014-- possibly the most expensive season of our entire lives (knock on wood).  So get ready!